Last night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that running back Raheem Mostert requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. Mostert is currently on a special teams contract but wanted a raise after winning the starting job towards the end of 2019. Mostert and the 49ers ultimately couldn’t come to an agreement, leaving him looking for a new team.
This leaves fantasy football owners everywhere wondering what to do with Raheem Mostert. Most of Mostert’s value comes from the possibility of leading Kyle Shanahan’s backfield. Shanahan is arguably the greatest offensive mind in the league and is capable of getting production out of anybody. Should fantasy owners sell Mostert while they can, or hold on and hope for the best?
What to Do With Raheem Mostert in Fantasy Football
He’s Not Going Anywhere
Raheem Mostert doesn’t want to be in San Francisco anymore, but he might not have a choice. The running back currently has two additional years on his contract, and new CBA requirements make a holdout all but impossible for someone in Mostert’s position. Raheem Mostert will play in 2020, the only question is where.
Right now, it’s hard to see any team giving up anything of value for Mostert. If another team wants Mostert, they’ll have to give up a draft pick and meet his contract demands, which probably means paying him roughly $4-5 million per season. This is a high price to pay for a 28-year old running back that has spent time with seven different organizations.
Raheem Mostert might not want to play for the 49ers, but he doesn’t have much of a say in the matter. Like Melvin Gordon a season ago, Mostert simply lacks both the leverage to get a new contract and the market to earn a raise elsewhere. Gordon missed a few games last year but ultimately returned to his team. You can expect the same thing from Mostert, except he probably won’t miss any games to a holdout.
If Raheem Mostert Gets Traded
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that the 49ers do find a market for the 28-year old. In that instance, Mostert should still carry a decent amount of fantasy football value. Mostert led the league in yards-per-carry last year, but most of that was thanks to Kyle Shanahan’s superior scheme. However, Mostert still has the vision and breakaway speed to lead an NFL backfield.
Chances are, any team giving up draft capital and a new contract for Mostert’s services won’t be doing it to make him a backup. While he probably won’t have a Christian McCaffrey type of snap percentage, he will probably be the primary back wherever he lands. Opportunity is king in fantasy, and Mostert’s opportunity will probably remain wherever he lands.
Looking around the league, Mostert’s most likely landing spot in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team has openly mentioned the possibility of signing Devonta Freeman, although money is an issue. If the Buccaneers view Mostert as a considerable upgrade on both Freeman and Ronald Jones, they could pull the trigger and work out a deal. If that happens, Mostert would suddenly be the lead back on one of the best offenses in football. Truthfully, this could improve his current fantasy value.
Mostert’s market is currently declining thanks to the trade news, so you’d have to sell him for pennies on the dollar. If you’re the Raheem Mostert owner, don’t do anything rash. He’s probably not going anywhere, and there’s a good chance he’ll be the starter even if he does leave.
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